Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg might be the most prized pitcher, like, ever. That is why the Nationals are treating him like a delicate flower, encasing him in glass for the rest of the season only to be viewed from behind velvet ropes.

Fine. Whatever. Opinions fly on whether shutting him down is the correct call or not.

But one thing that seemed to trouble a lot of people, including many who work within the sport, regardless of their feelings on the shutdown, was that Strasburg’s super agent, Scott Boras, played a role in the decision. It helped the belief when Boras said in a Washington Post interview, “This is how (general manager) Mike Rizzo and I built this team.”

Boras went on to talk about all the players he has with the Nationals and in the farm system, making it sound as if he had a bigger role with the team than just negotiating contracts. Boras has negotiated contracts for no fewer than eight players on the Nationals or in their system, including one of the game’s other major stars, Bryce Harper.

Well, Boras cleared up his position over the weekend in an interview with ESPN.com, saying the decision to put Strasburg on the bench for good was Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson’s decision, and that he and his firm had nothing to do with it other than sharing information they gathered after Strasburg’s Tommy John surgery in 2010.

“Before players are under contract, I have a matter of control,” Boras told ESPN.com. “I’ll ask a team, ‘How much is he going to pitch? What's your plan for him?’ That type of thing. But once he's under contract, I don't say a word.

“Certainly, I try to give teams insights and information. But when you’re not there every day, how can you make these calls? It’s not my place or anybody’s place unless you’re there. A manager has a job. A general manager has a job, and that's what they should do. They make these decisions. I don’t.”

The original quote was disturbing because it made it appear Boras was OK with holding Strasburg back, being cautious with his health, so that he wouldn’t reinjure himself and stay in line for a mega payday when he’s eligible for free agency. Of course, that would benefit Boras’ bank account.

To see Boras clear up his stance, which he has attempted to do since those initial comments to the Washington Post, is good. The last thing fans need to hear is that the game and a team’s decisions are being dictated by money (even though this one is at least partly) and especially in this case where the Nationals are making the sacrifice in a season in which they have a legitimate shot to win the World Series.